MedTrace Logo

tAVNS for Stress Reduction in University Students

NCT07411846 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 40

Last updated 2026-04-08

Study results available
· View outcomes & findings →

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) works to reduce perceived stress and psychological distress in university students with high distress levels. The main questions it aims to answer are:

* Does taVNS reduce perceived stress (measured by PSS-10) in university students with high psychological distress?
* Does taVNS reduce psychological distress (measured by K10) in university students with high psychological distress?
* Is the intervention feasible and tolerable for implementation in higher-education mental health support?

Researchers will compare taVNS (electrode placed on the left tragus) to a sham stimulation group (electrode placed on the left earlobe) to see if taVNS reduces stress and distress.

Participants will:

* Attend five consecutive daily 30-minute stimulation sessions
* Complete stress and distress questionnaires before the intervention, immediately after, and at 1-month follow-up
* Receive electrical stimulation at individually adjusted intensity using the Nurosym device (pulse width 250 µs, frequency 20 Hz).

Conditions

  • Psychological Distress
  • Stress (Psychology)
  • Perceived Stress

Interventions

DEVICE

taVNS

Non-invasive electrical stimulation delivered via the Nurosym device targeting the auricular branch of the vagus nerve. Electrode placement on the left tragus. Parameters: pulse width 250 µs, frequency 20 Hz, intensity individually adjusted to perception threshold. Five consecutive daily 30-minute sessions.

DEVICE

Sham

Non-invasive electrical stimulation delivered via the Nurosym device with electrode placement on the left earlobe. Identical parameters to active intervention (taVNS): pulse width 250 µs, frequency 20 Hz, intensity individually adjusted to perception threshold. Five consecutive daily 30-minute sessions.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Egas Moniz - Cooperativa de Ensino Superior, CRL

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2025-01-10
Primary Completion
2025-03-17
Completion
2025-06-10

Countries

  • Portugal

Study Locations

More Related Trials

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07411846 on ClinicalTrials.gov